Savage still has eye on a Wales call-up

ROBBIE SAVAGE has pulled out of a string of TV and radio dates to comment on Wales’ World Cup exploits so as not to endanger any hopes he has of a return to the international squad.

John Toshack’s squad flew to the Austrian capital, Vienna, yesterday with the Savage saga still raging following their disappointing 2-0 defeat by Austria in Cardiff on Saturday which virtually ended their hopes of reaching next summer’s World Cup finals.

Savage had dramatically quit international football after being axed from the Wales squad, and he has since been inundated with requests for him to speak his mind on TV and radio broadcasts.

However, despite approaches from Sky Sports to appear as a pundit for Wednesday’s return match with Austria in Group Six, Savage has declined after taking advice from the highest level at his Blackburn club.

Savage had been asked by Radio 5 Live and Sky to take part in their broadcasts of Saturday’s Cardiff clash, but had declined both offers. He was also asked to appear on Sky’s ‘Goals on Sunday’ show but also said ‘no’.

It is believed that Savage wants to discuss his situation with boss Toshack, although an FA of Wales spokesman declined to comment on claims there had been tentative contact between Savage and the Wales camp over the weekend.

Assistant boss Roy Evans has made it clear that the door is not closed, although FAW sources insist that only a complete apology from Savage to Toshack following his personal attack on the 56-year-old will have any chance of salvaging the situation.

Evans has made it clear there is hope: “I don’t think anything is ever over. I am not privy to what is going on with Robbie and John, but if it sorts itself out then that is terrific.”

Seven players have quit in the wake of Mark Hughes’ departure and Evans added: “There are two or three other players we would like back.”

The FA of Wales are trying to play down the situation, but if Savage does make contact with Toshack, there could be a chance he would be taken on the training trip to San Sebastian in northern Spain in May. Toshack had three spells as manager of Real Sociedad and still has a home in the Basque country.